Contrary to speculations that the former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye might likely emerge as the running mate of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor who got the ruling Labour Party (LP) return ticket today retained his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi as his running mate.

Mimiko, who was endorsed by his party members at a congress held at Adegbemile hall in Akure, the state capital raised the hand of Olanusi up as his running mate.

Already, there had been rumours that Agunloye who was a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) met with Mimiko and some cheiftains of LP and they reached some aggreements before he defected for LP last Wednesday at the declaration of Mimiko for second term.

“Daily Post” gathered autoritatively that Mimiko promised to pick the former ACN aspirant, the flagbearer of the party as his LP running mate and hand over power to him in 2017 if he declared for LP.

It will be recalled that the former Minister said he left the ACN following the refusal of the party national leadership to pick him as the ACN flagbearer.

Meanwhile, early this morning, an governorship aspirant of LP , Mr. Abiodun Ogunjumelo withdrew from the race through a letter he sent to the party leadership.

Ogunjumelo, a Chartered Accountant from Okitipupa local Government Area told the gathering that his withdrawal was as a result of his fervent belief in party supremacy.

“My withdrawal should not come as a surprise because of my belief in the overall interest of our great party. I am declaring to you all that I will die a Labour party member” he said.

The governor, who serves out his first term next February, was then overwhelmingly given the second term ticket through affirmation by party delegates from across the 18 local government areas of the state in an exercise conducted by the National Chairman, Barr. Dan Nwanyanwu and monitored by the Alhaji Ali Abacha – led Election Committee in the state capital, Akure.

Also, ACN announced Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as the duly elected governorship candidate for the coming election.

Akeredolu candidature was duly voted for by party delegates in the 18 local governments of the State.

Announcing the result, the chairman of the congress committee, Mr. Olawale Osun said that the total number of accredited delegates is 61,246 and 55,917 out of the accredited delegates voted in favour of Rotimi Akeredolu.

One of the former aspirants and a former chairman the party, Barrister Sola iji moved the motion for the acceptance of the result. Subsequently another aspirant and a federal lawmaker, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde seconded the motion moved by sola iji.

The candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu after receiving his certificate of nomination, presented by the National vice chairman, South west Senator James kolawole said it is time for the party to swing into action.

Akeredolu said it is sure that the party will emerge victorious in the election, stressing that he is ready for the task ahead.

In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, 621 delegates elected the former National Legal Adviser of the Party, Chief Olusola Oke as candidate for the forthcoming election.

The party peaceful primaries was witnessed by INEC officials and PDP National delegation led by Senator Umaru Tsauri. Olusola Oke picked a former governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], Mr. Saka Lawal as his running mate.

Addressing the party delegates, the PDP state chairman, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi said there was an internal aggreement between the party executives and Chieftains in selecting the party candidate and the running mate.

Alabi added that the party went into the primaries after the delegates have unianimously aggreed to vote for Oke.

He noted that “the system adopted by the party was supported by other aspirants and they are all present at this party primaries to support the PDP flagbeaerer”.

The former State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu commended the party leaders and supporters for adopting Oke as their flagbearer, stressing that “in Ondo State today, PDP is one family”.

Agagu said it was part of the aggreement of the PDP leaders to give the party Deputy governorship slot to a former member of any opposition party.

“Lawal was picked today because he was one of the aspirants of ACN and also have the ideology which the PDP has for the people of the state. What we are doing today has never been done in the history of the party. The peoeple have seen that there is a big different between LP and PDP. They are suffering and want our government back”.

The party candidate commended the party members for embracing his candidature, promising that he would never disappoint them.

Oke assured that his administration would focus on creation of jobs for the people.

He said “You can’t embark on infrastruture when the people are suffering, they will embark on destroying them. You can’t be building bus stop when you don’t have buses, thank God for the federal government who gave the states Oil subsidy palliative buses”